Pet Registration Guide
Stratapilot · Help Centre Last updated: June 2026
Overview
Most Australian strata schemes require lot owners to obtain committee approval before keeping a pet on the premises. Stratapilot manages the registration and approval workflow, keeping a complete record of all registrations for governance purposes.
Who Can Register and Approve
| Action | Executive | Ordinary Member | Caretaker | Viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Submit a pet registration | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ (own lots only) |
| View all registrations | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Approve or reject a registration | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
Lot owners (Viewer role) can only register pets for lots they own. Committee members and executives can submit registrations for any lot in the scheme.
Step 1 — Submitting a Pet Registration (Lot Owner)
- Go to Pets in the main navigation.
- Click Register a pet.
- Fill in the registration form:
- Lot — select the lot where the pet will be kept. Only your own lots are shown if you are a Viewer.
- Pet name — required.
- Species — required (e.g. Dog, Cat, Rabbit, Bird).
- Breed — optional but recommended for identification.
- Description — optional. Describe the pet's appearance, size, or any relevant details. An AI-assisted description helper is available.
- Photo — optional. Upload a photo of the pet (any standard image format).
- Click Submit.
Your registration is created with Pending status. You will receive an email confirmation.
One active registration per pet per lot. If a registration is approved and later the pet is no longer at the lot, the committee can mark it inactive to free up the slot for a new registration.
What Happens After Submission
- An email notification is sent to all committee executives (Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer) alerting them of the new registration.
- The registration appears in the Pets list with Pending status.
- A committee executive reviews the registration and approves or rejects it.
- You receive an email notification with the outcome.
Step 2 — Committee Review and Decision (Executive)
- Go to Pets in the main navigation.
- Click on the pending registration to open the detail view.
- Review the submitted information: lot number, owner name, pet details, and photo.
- Check the scheme's pet by-law to verify the registration is eligible (species restrictions, size limits, etc.).
- Choose an action:
- Approve — the pet is approved to be kept at the lot.
- Reject — the registration is rejected.
- Optionally add a decision note with:
- Approval conditions (e.g. "Approved subject to the pet being kept on-lead in common areas")
- Rejection reason (e.g. "The scheme's by-laws do not permit dogs over 10kg")
- Save the decision.
The submitter receives an email with the outcome and decision note.
Registration statuses
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Submitted, awaiting committee review |
| Approved | Committee has approved the registration |
| Rejected | Committee has rejected the registration |
Resubmitting After Rejection
If a registration is rejected, the lot owner can submit a new registration for the same pet after making changes. For example:
- Uploading additional documentation (e.g. a vet certificate showing the pet's weight)
- Requesting reconsideration after an amendment to the scheme's pet by-laws
- Registering a different pet
To resubmit, go to Pets → Register a pet and complete a new registration form.
Viewing All Registrations
Committee members and executives can see all registrations in the scheme — past and present, for all lots.
Lot owners (Viewer role) can only see registrations they submitted. They cannot see other lot owners' pet registrations.
The registrations list shows:
- Pet name, species, and breed
- Lot number and owner name
- Current status (Pending / Approved / Rejected)
Click any registration to see the full detail, decision note, and history.
State-Specific Pet By-law Notes
| State | Key provisions | Legislation |
|---|---|---|
| QLD | By-laws may restrict (but not absolutely prohibit) pets in certain schemes; unreasonable restrictions can be challenged | BCCM Act — body corporate may pass by-law permitting or restricting pets |
| NSW | Model by-law 16 allows pet keeping with committee approval; the scheme's registered by-laws govern what is permitted | SSMA 2015 — model by-laws include a pet approval process |
| VIC | Owners corporations may have rules about pets; blanket prohibitions are generally not enforceable under recent guidance | Owners Corporations Act 2006 |
| WA | By-laws may regulate pet keeping; approval process varies by scheme | Strata Titles Act 2020 |
⚠️ Always refer to your scheme's registered by-laws for the specific rules that apply. The platform enforces the workflow — the actual rules are defined by your by-laws.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does approval take? The platform does not set a statutory deadline for pet approvals (unlike records inspection requests). However, unreasonable delays in processing a pet registration may be challenged under your state's by-law enforcement provisions. Check your scheme's by-laws for any stated response time.
Can the committee approve with conditions? Yes. The decision note field can be used to record any conditions attached to an approval (e.g. "Approved for indoor cats only", "Must be kept on-lead in common areas"). The lot owner will see these conditions in the approval notification email.
What if the same pet moves to a different lot? Submit a new registration for the new lot. The original registration (for the old lot) can be marked as inactive by the committee.
Can a lot owner have multiple pets? That depends on your scheme's by-laws. Stratapilot allows multiple registrations per lot — one registration per pet. The by-law determines whether multiple pets are permitted.
What happens to the registration record if a lot is sold? The registration record remains in the platform as a historical record. The new owner's access replaces the old owner's, but the registration history is retained for the lot.
Can the committee revoke a previously approved registration? Yes, via the platform — an executive can update the registration status. Under most state strata acts, a committee would need to follow the by-law enforcement process to formally require removal of an approved pet (e.g. due to a subsequent by-law breach or nuisance).
This guide documents Stratapilot platform behaviour. Always refer to your scheme's registered by-laws and your state's strata legislation for the rules that govern pet keeping in your scheme. Consult a licensed strata manager or lawyer if there is a dispute.